MORE than 93 per cent of pupils in Cumbria were offered their first choice secondary school this September, government figures reveal.

Some 4,721 applied for schools across the county, with 93.2 per cent being allocated their preference.

Nearly 99 per cent were offered either their first or second preference and 99.57 per cent achieved a place at their first, second or third preference school.

Cllr Clare Feeney-Johnson, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for schools and learning, said: “It’s great news that the vast majority of pupils have secured a place at their first choice school. Young people in Cumbria are more likely to get a place at the secondary they want than most other places in the country. That will be a great comfort to the majority of parents here.”